SUNDAY SCHOOL continued actually led Israel into captivity (v. 6). Reasons for the Downfall vv. 7-14 Robert Lee of England says, “ In this chapter we have a post-mortem inquiry into the diseases that killed a nation.” The verses before us are especially de voted to this very thing. What are the reasons assigned for Israel’s downfall? First, they were guilty of turning away from the Lord unto other gods (v. 7, see also w . 15, 16). No people can do this and expect anything but judgment. Second, they followed after the ways of the pagan nations whom the Lord had cast out of the land (v. 8). Some of the atrocious sins of these pagan peoples are set forth in such a passage as Leviticus 18, especially verses 24,25. Conformity with the world always brings the dis pleasure of God. Third, they were guilty of secret abominations (v. 9). Men may deceive other men but everything is open to the eyes of God. Fourth, Israel was also guilty of public idolatry (w . 9-12. See also w . 18,19). Study the subject of high place worship as it is set forth in the Old Testament and it will be seen how wicked it was. Scripture again and again speaks against the idolatry and immorality con nected with such worship. For instance, Num. 33:51, 52. And, fifth, they rejected the message of God’s prophets (w . 13,14). It is always with peril to man’s soul to turn a deaf ear to God’s message. Israel surely found this out, (v. 18). Helps for the Children Memory Verse: "The ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them" (Hosea 14:9). For many years God sent prophets to warn the Jewish people of severe punish ment unless they repented of their sins and returned unto Him. At last, because of their idolatry and their failure to obey God, the Jews were taken into captivity by their enemies, the Assyrians. The king dom of which they had been proud for many years was brought to an end by God. God had given them many oppor tunities to repent. Each time they had refused to return unto Him. They forgot His loving-kindness in the past; they re fused to worship Him rather than idols; they walked contrary to His will and refused to obey His laws. God has sent the Lord Jesus Christ, His only Son, to pay the penalty for your sin. In God’s Word, the Bible, we are told that those who refuse to receive God’s gift will have everlasting punishment in hell. Those who accept God’s gift of sal vation will have everlasting life in heaven with Him. God has warned men of the future punishment of those who do not believe upon the Lord Jesus as the only way of life everlasting. Many have ac cepted God’s offer and have become His children. Thousands of men and women and boys and girls throughout the world are still refusing to heed His warning and obey His Word. Which of these de scriptions tells of your attitude toward the Lord Jesus and toward God’s Word? END. The End of a Kingdom 2 Kings 17:7-13, 22, 23
which the Lord had given them. See, if I take this coil out of the flame, it soon gets cold, and loses its fire. Here is a little jar, marked GOD’S WILL. We will again heat the coil, and this time put it in this jar. Now, -the coil stays red-hot. I can take it from the fire to the dark world, and it is still red-hot. You now see why I said that the coil reminded me of Amos. Being in God’s will, wherever he went, the light and warmth of God’s will was revealed. The children of Israel had sinned, and the Lord sent Amos to them to declare the will of God. They were told of their sins and called to repent and turn from them. In Amos 7:14-16 we read, “ Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the Lord took me and I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord.” What was true of Amos is true of God’s people today. If we continue in God’s will, He will use us to carry His message to those who are in dark ness. June 13, 1954 F olks and F ans OBJECTS: An electric fan, an electric light cord about 6 feet long, a large blue cardboard triangle, a globe of the world, two bolts 4 inches long, two sticks 1 inch square by 7 inches long, a glass dish such as is used to defrost a refrigerator, and a capital I. (Cut one of the wires in the light cord. Fasten a new wire about 3 feet long to the current end, and another the same length to the light end of the cut wire. Tape the joints. Fasten the ends of each of these wires to separate bolts with solder, or between nuts.
June 6, 1954 W ork ing in H is W ill
OBJECTS: A globe of the world, a 6Vz oz. wide-mouth bottle, with 2 oz. of acetone in it, an alcohol lamp and a piece of small copper wire 12 inches long. (The acetone can be secured at any drug store. Coil one end of the copper wire into a series of twists around a large nail. Wrap the other end of the wire around a small stick, which when placed across the mouth of the bottle, will suspend the wire inside the jar, keeping it from touch ing the acetone. The coil should come within V 2 inch of the acetone. If the acetone should start burning, place the lid over the mouth of the
jar and the fire will become extin guished. Print or .paste the words, GOD’S WILL on the side of the jar which contains the acetone.) LESSON: This little coil reminds me of the prophet Amos. It does not look like it was of much use. Amos was a shepherd and a gatherer of syca more fruit. Perhaps he had made his living that way. If a man had been choosing a prophet, doubtless, he would not have chosen Amos, but God thought differently. The Lord called Amos and caused his life to glow. (Hold the coil over the alcohol lamp until it is red-hot.) Many people have been on fire for the Lord, but soon forgot the message vacation with a purpose Combine your vacation with a Christian conference. For details see inside front cover, pp. 34-38.
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